Mondo Duplantis Wins Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award
Pole vault sensation Mondo Duplantis has made headlines by winning the prestigious Laureus Sportsman of the Year award for 2024. This remarkable achievement marks him as only the second track and field athlete to snag this honor, following a year of extraordinary accomplishments. Duplantis’s win ends a three-year wait, as he had been nominated each year without clinching the award until now.
In a competitive field that included stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Leon Marchand, Tadej Pogacar, and Max Verstappen, Duplantis stood out. The 2024 season turned out to be a phenomenal one for him. He kicked off the year by securing his second gold medal at the World Indoor Championships in March. Later, he broke his own world record for the ninth time while winning gold at the Paris Olympics, followed by another world record at the Silesia Diamond League meeting.
Expressing his emotions about the accolade, the 25-year-old Duplantis shared his excitement about finally winning. “I am incredibly honoured to have won my first Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award in the sporting capital of Madrid, especially with the legendary Usain Bolt paying tribute to me. It feels amazing to be the second track and field athlete to achieve this.”
Duplantis acknowledged the significance of the Laureus Awards for athletes, stating, “I know how hard it is to win this award since this is my fourth nomination. In fact, it feels tougher than winning an Olympic gold medal!”
He received the award from tennis star Novak Djokovic, a moment he will cherish. “Receiving this award from a great player like Novak Djokovic is something I’ll never forget. I’m proud to follow in the footsteps of champions like him, Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, and Lionel Messi. The history of winners for this award reflects true sporting greatness over the last 25 years," he said.
In addition to Duplantis’s triumph, Simone Biles was named Sportswoman of the Year. Real Madrid took home the title of World Team of the Year, while Lamine Yamal was awarded Breakthrough of the Year.
Here’s the complete list of winners:
- Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: Mondo Duplantis
- Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year: Simone Biles
- Laureus World Team of the Year: Real Madrid
- Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year: Lamine Yamal
- Laureus World Comeback of the Year: Rebeca Andrade
- Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Jiang Yuyan
- Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Tom Pidcock
- Laureus Sport for Good Award: Kick4Life
- Laureus Sporting Icon Award: Rafael Nadal
- Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award: Kelly Slater
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